Should we call you Sugar Lips?

By Joey Wilson

Sugar is awesome! I love the sweet stuff, yet we all know that too much sugar can harm your body. But what about your brain? Well, it is part of the body. I hate to break your heart, but too much sugar consumption can hurt your brain as well. The average American and our Canadian neighbors eat about 66 pounds of sugar a year[i]. A diet high in sugar can hinder learning and memory by slowing down the brain. A study in UCLA has shown that sugar damages the synaptic connection within the brain (the communication or connection between two neurons or brain cells).[ii] It also has been found that sugar and carbon rich foods not only play havoc with our weight – it messes with our mood! It can lead to brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, learning disorders[iii] and is a possible cause of depression[iv]. We all know a sugar-laden diet can lead to diabetes, and there are indications that there is possibility of a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, a neurodegenerative disorder now being classified as a type 3 diabetes[v].

So far, not so good. In a study conducted at Princeton University, in a preliminary review, neuroscientist Bart Hoebel stated “Sugar triggers production of the brain’s natural opioids. “We think that is a key to the addiction process …the brain is getting addicted to its own opioids as it would to morphine or heroin.” Sugar can become an addiction and like a drug the withdrawal signs are similar to drug withdrawal[vi]. Enough with the bad news. The good news is you can do something about it. Your mind is very powerful. But do not do this alone. Work with your physician, counselor or nutritionist.

At An Optimal Brain, we work together with providers as a team member. Brainwave Optimization is an excellent method to “unstuck” your brain and bring it back to its natural state of relaxation and help you “break the habit”.

[i] University of San Francisco, sugar science the unsweetened truth, “How Much is Too Much”. Source retrieved from: